Overview & Reviews

Blending all-American style with European-inspired handling, the Cadillac CTS has been a popular choice with luxury sedan consumers for more than a decade. Within that period, there have been three generations. Despite shortcomings in terms of interior design and quality, the first CTS is still a fair choice for a used luxury sedan. The second-generation CTS, which featured substantial improvements to its interior, is a much more appealing car. The most recent generation of the CTS has grown in both size and sophistication, and we feel it's the first CTS to truly be on equal footing with its European and Japanese competition.

Current Cadillac CTS
Debuting for 2014 and representing the model's third generation, the current Cadillac CTS sedan is larger and now competes more directly against midsize luxury sport sedans, leaving the compact sport sedan fight to its smaller ATS brother. The CTS coupe, wagon and CTS-V sedan carried over unchanged for this year. Improved in every way over its already respected predecessor, the latest CTS sedan has the looks, the power and the luxury required to go tire-to-tire against the world's best in this segment.

There are six main trim levels: Standard, Luxury, Performance, Premium, Vsport and Vsport Premium. Three engines are offered but trim level determines availability. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 272 horsepower starts things off, and it's matched to a six-speed automatic transmission and either standard rear-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive (AWD). Next up is a 3.6-liter V6 good for 321 hp -- it comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It's also available with AWD, though that version gets the six-speed auto. The Vsport comes with an exclusive turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 packing 420 hp, along with rear-wheel drive and the eight-speed automatic as the sole drivetrain setup.

Equipment on the CTS Standard trim includes keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen display and an 11-speaker Bose sound system. Upgrading to the CTS Luxury trim gets you xenon headlights, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats and added safety features. The CTS Performance is highlighted by its adaptive suspension, panoramic sunroof, head-up display and heated rear seats. The Premium trim is similar but adds adaptive cruise control and upgraded front seats and upholstery. Besides its engine, the Vsport is differentiated by its sport-tuned mechanical hardware.

The cabin of the CTS offers solid build quality and rich materials. Overall, there's a very luxurious vibe inside, and we think it's one of the most stylish designs you'll find in this segment. However, even though the latest CTS is larger than before, its interior space is essentially the same. As such, it's lacking a little for backseat and trunk space compared to its rivals. Another minor downside is the CUE ("Cadillac User Experience") infotainment system, which can be difficult to use and slow to respond.

We've only driven the high-performance CTS Vsport model thus far, so we can only comment on that version. As expected, acceleration is indeed impressive, as is the eight-speed automatic, which provides gearchanges that range from silky smooth to sports car rapid depending on the selected driving mode. Handling is sharp, composed and rewarding as well, providing the driver with an uncommon level of tactility.

Used Cadillac CTS Models
The second-generation Cadillac CTS sedan was produced from 2008 through 2013. Compared to the original CTS, it was notably more refined and powerful. In addition to the sedan, a coupe, a wagon and high-performance CTS-V variants (all reviewed separately) were also available. Overall body dimensions were similar to the first CTS, but wider-set wheels gave it a more powerful stance. The previous CTS's lackluster interior was remedied by a more attractive design, up-to-date electronics and the use of better materials.

Prior to the 2010 model year, the base engine was a 3.6-liter V6 with 258 hp. After that, the standard engine was a 3.0-liter V6 generating 270 hp. A more powerful 3.6-liter V6 was optional all along, and produced 304 hp until 2012, when output increased to 318 hp. That marked the last year that a six-speed manual transmission was available with the base engine. Subsequently, a six-speed automatic was the only transmission offered. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) being optional.

Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control and satellite radio; much later versions even came with heated seats and a rearview camera at no extra cost. Options included keyless ignition and entry and a navigation system with digital music storage capability. Two sport suspension packages were also available and we'd recommend noting if a used CTS is so equipped. Handling will be improved as a result, but the trade-off is a rougher ride.

Overall, the upgraded interior and spirited powertrains pushed this CTS into top-tier status for a luxury sport sedan. Highlights include a roomy cabin, an elegant interior design and capable handling. Besides the potentially rough ride, downsides included poor rearward visibility and for some drivers, an awkward driving position.

Notable changes made throughout this generation's run included, for 2010 only, the Eco Lux Collection option. Available only on the base 3.0-liter V6, it included tweaked aerodynamics and special tires that allowed 30 mpg on the highway -- a gain of 3 mpg. There was also a slight styling tweak for 2012, but otherwise changes were minimal.

The first-generation Cadillac CTS was sold from the 2003-'07 model years. When it debuted, the CTS was one of Cadillac's first cars to fully emphasize the brand's modern, angular styling themes. It was also a significant departure from traditional modern Cadillacs because of its rear-wheel drive, available manual transmission, stiff body structure and sport-oriented handling dynamics.

The car's larger-than-average exterior dimensions translated to a roomier cabin that could accommodate five adults. A fair number of features came standard, including antilock brakes and side curtain airbags. Upscale features were typically bundled as part of optional packages. Common options included a premium Bose audio system, a DVD-based navigation system, xenon headlights and a sunroof. A Sport package provided a sport-tuned suspension, bigger wheels and tires, and stability control.

In its first year, the Cadillac CTS came only with a 3.2-liter V6 good for 220 hp. This was joined in 2004 by a more desirable 255-hp 3.6-liter V6. At the time, the base V6 was available with a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic. The larger V6 came with the automatic only. In 2005, however, the 3.2-liter engine was dropped in favor of a smaller, 210-hp 2.8-liter engine. Cadillac also upgraded the manual transmission to a six-speed unit and made it available for the 3.6-liter V6 as well.

User Reviews:

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  Love this Car - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Charlene - May 10 - 6:59 pm

  I have owned this vehicle for a little over a year and I never get tired of looking at it or driving it. This car makes driving fun and safe at the same time. She has terrific acceleration when needed, has responsive handling on turns, and stops with control. In teaching my daughter how to drive she accidentally put her foot on the gas at a red light taking us dangerously close to the intersection, she then slammed on the brakes, the car never lost its footing, all the safty features kicked in, ABS, stability control, and traction control. We avoided an accident. I now have signed her up for driving lessons. GM thank you for making safety sexy.

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  What a great suprise - 2004 Cadillac CTS
  By Agbacker - May 9 - 10:00 am

  I came home after getting a raise to tell my wife I wanted to get her an Escalade for her birthday. To my surprise, she said that she had been driving SUVs for 13 years and since our kids were driving she wanted something fun. This has proven to be a big hit - solid construction, great looking and FUN to drive. This is a big step in the right direction for Cadillac.

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  An American Car Makes the Grade! - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By RAN - May 6 - 10:29 am

  For years I have driven foreign luxury cars because American car companies did not build the car I wanted to drive. The CTS is finally an American car that has a place in my garage. The CTS is very comfortable, quiet, just the right size, has unique styling, and I am averaging 29 mpg on the highway. The construction of the car is very solid and the Cadilac Division of GM has done a remarkable job in following up to make sure I am 100% satisfied with the CTS.

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  Wow - 2008 Cadillac CTS
  By Mike - May 5 - 8:50 am

  Waited 7 weeks and 1 day for cars arrival after factory order. Even though I had seen hundreds of photos in magazines and television ads, I was stunned by the cars beauty and design in person. And this is from a guy that owns an 07 MB S550 and 06 MB CLS500. The White Diamond paint is outstanding as is the build quality. The interior is excellent as well. I cant imagine anyone not being pleased with this vehicle. I got on the freeway and opened it up a bit and was very happy with the response and smoothness of the egine and transmission. Kudos to General Motors.

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  Happily Surprised by GM - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By Happy Owner - April 21 - 10:30 pm

  This is my first Cadillac. I am absolutely delighted with this car. It came with no defects, and rides like a dream. My German friends tell me that it rides better than a BMW. It holds the road, without the extra suspension package. It does not dip in curves. It has terrific road feel, but still is very comfortable inside. It has lots of room for passengers, including tall ones. The CTS has good trunk space. Highway driving is a pleasure and city driving great. With the 3.8L engine it has very good pickup, lots of power under the hood. IT has good acceleration on hills. My gas mileage has been 21.3 overall, which is unexpectedly good. The radio is a dream with 8 Bose speakers. The cooling has separate controls for driver and passenger, more than enough. Im hooked.

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  CTS meet expectation - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By E Lucas - April 18 - 11:38 pm

  This particular model is great-looking, easy and very comfortable to drive. Id get the larger engine only if needed. Its a nice riding auto!

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  CTS BEAUTY - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By TEACHER LADY - April 10 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS GREAT. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. IT HAS STYLE AND IS IN A CLASS ALL ITS OWN

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  GMs CTS hits a homerun - 2006 Cadillac CTS
  By JE - April 6 - 3:21 pm

  I took delivery of this car a month ago and Im impressed. Stylish, modern, and powerful. My friends BMW 325 has nothing on my CTS. If you want an entry-level luxury sedan, but dont want to be stuck with an ES 330 or a bulky Avalon, and dont want to pay BMW or Mercedes prices, this is the way to go. This car will take you from hip in South Beach to classic at your corporate headquaters and wont lose its cool. Way to go GM.

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  Great Car - 2005 Cadillac CTS
  By tom marino - April 5 - 10:02 am

  The 2005 Cadillac CTS rides great and looks great. It needs better tires though. The Goodyears that mine came with had to be replaced at 18,000 miles.

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  Fun and comfortable car - 2003 Cadillac CTS
  By Boomdog - March 30 - 9:12 pm

  The Cadillac CTS is a fun car to drive, very comfortable as well. It handles very well. You can drive this car like a traditional Caddy, or turn it on and drive it like a sports car.